The big trends in accessories for 2015

Yep, Christmas is well and truly upon us. It is easily the best time of the year, and a time for indulgence, from food to gifts. It is of course the perfect time of year to show your loved ones you care, and this doesn’t mean spending a gazillion pounds either.

It won’t be long before Christmas is forgotten; the mince pies have been devoured, the decoration are in the attic for another year and we look ahead to a brand new belonging in the form of 2015. Have you thought of any resolutions yet?

Everyone knows I love my beauty, but fashion and accessorising is all part and parcel of the whole package. What’s the point in showing off your amazing new watch if your nails aren’t shiny from a post-manicure?!

The New Year also means sales and there are big savings to be had. Whether it’s a stylish designer watch from Watches of Switzerland or a gorgeous pair of earrings and necklace combo from your favourite high street (that happens to now be half price too=win!) there will always be an accessory that takes your fancy.

Here are some of the best to look out for in 2015:

Bright and Bold Earrings

Whether it’s sporting just one absolute show-stopper or opting for traditional Avant Garde style jewels, if you want one focus next spring/summer, opt for the statement earrings. I mean, check out these ‘crocodile tear’ earrings:

So clever! And I love the Parisian style jewels and Art Deco style, and you can find such perfect jewels at market and vintage stores whether they’re online or in person. Often one of a kind, you can really make your sense of style as unique as you really are.

Experimenting with your looks is so fun so why not try teaming your minimal outfits with crazy big gold or silver hoops and added bling in the form of a Chanel chain bag.

Gorgeous Gladiator sandals

It’s weird even meaning the word “sandals” when we’re in the midst of such a chill (winter is well and truly here ladies and gentlemen) but before you know it, the sun will be back and summer holiday will be booked. Save yourself the effort and rush that comes with missing the  fashionista boat and get ahead of the game.

SS15 has brought with it a more stylish gladiator sandal in the form of thin, high heel and gladiator style boots that can easily be styled with your festive party outfits for that extra bit of “Wow!” factor.

Circular detailing

This is a peculiar trend and one generally not spotted, but circular shapes are everywhere this season; they’re hard to miss in fact!

Where you will see a lot of them is handbags. The clasp detailing has been seen from Victoria Beckham to Celine with many clutch bag incorporating this into the handle so that striking clasp is at the fall front. Of course, a metallic handle also looks so striking.

It isn’t just bags and purse opting for the circular motion, but necklaces, bracelets and even sunglasses too.

In terms of the bracelets and necklaces, it’s all about being bold. Bamboo style rings decorated the front and geometric shapes gives a real 60s feel. When styling, you can leave your clothes minimal and express yourself through the bling instead!

Pastels pastels pastels!

Come to mention the 60s, I couldn’t help but fall madly in love with the Moschino show for SS15 ; it was Barbie themed. The outfits all looked so much fun, and there was definitely a pink theme running throughout.

Now, not every woman is a pink fan, and it can look a little tacky in the wrong concept so what are the basic rules. For starters, if you’re wearing all pink from head-to-toe, you better have the attitude to back it up! It’s a daring look and can easily look either frumpy or overkill when not executed properly.

The easiest way would be to opt for a light sugary pink knit. It will keep you cosy during chilly winter days and will be perfect come spring for those slightly less chiller evenings.

I might be looking a little far into the future, but the top designer have already had their spring/summer shows for 2015 so hop to it! And be one step ahead of the rest.  

www.periodbox.co.uk

If you could change the way you experience your periods would you? Yes me too!  Let me introduce you to PeriodBox**, it is a premium monthly subscription service that bundles your choice of tampons and pads with hand-picked goodies and exquisite treats to cheer you up when you most need it - how good does that sound?

Like a subscription box you might subscribe to for your beauty needs, this box aims to ensure you never have to do some last minute shopping because you have run out/forgotten or have to send the other half down to Tesco to get your Tampons.  So instead, PeriodBox will deliver your tampons or pads to you every month so you don't, but that is not all!  Instead with every box you will get a selection of premium teas, chocolates from artisan manufacturers and high-end beauty samples. You will also receive a unique design gift or a beautiful art print by our featured artist of the month.

So how does it work? I was lucky enough to be sent a box to try and I am just so impressed with it.  Once you have to the website you essentially fill out your profile and it you will be asked questions based on the length of your period and how long your cycle lasts and can then you can select the number of items in your box and choose the tampons and/or pads of your choice. No matter what your personal preference is – tampons during the day, pads at night you get to choose, right down to which brand you prefer.  Then once everything has been selected you sit and wait for your box to arrive and when it does, this is it:

Now for me, the box is quirky enough to put a smile on my face, especially the inside of the box with the 'How's it flowing' statement!  So inside my box other than my chosen choice of Tampons, pads and panty liners for my month we have the following:

Super Happiness Tea from BrewHaHa - A boutique tea brand from Glasgow that creates lovely teas in beautiful retro packaging using only the finest tea from Sri-Lanka.  This tea is a reviving Green Tea with warm vanilla & cherry marigold, this tea will give you a lovely glow.  Ingredients: Green Tea, Vanilla and Cherry Marigold.

Caramel and Sea-salt Chocolate from Chocolate & Love - Now I don't know about you girls, but I am a chocoholic at any time of the month, never mind THAT time of the month, but it is always welcomed with open arms and eaten before you have a chance to see it. This chocolate features the unique combination of Caramel and Sea-salt by the award winning and family owned chocolate brand Chocolate and Love. Now I'm not going to lie, it tastes absolutely amazing, you can tell it is made of the finest organic ingredients.

Au Lait Body Milk & Shower Gel from Scottish Fine Soaps - Now both of these bottles smell divine, at 50ml each, there is plenty to use on more than one occasion and they are perfect for a long weekend away.   Scottish Fine Soaps are a luxurious beauty brand whose products now sell in over 30 different countries around the world.

The Art Print by Olga Angelloz - Belarusian illustrator and designer Olga Angelloz combines fashion illustration and anthropomorphism in her latest project called 'Fashion Humanimals'.  As she is the Artist of the month, the card inside each box has been designed by Olga and I really like my print, it is both quirky and cute all rolled into one with the cat woman/model and famous Coco Chanel quote.

The final item in my box is a condom, im not sure anything else needs to be said about this. I love that it is included and find it an important part of the box.

As mentioned, this is a subscription box and it is a company/project run by Mags and Danielle who both quit their jobs to start this and I personally think it is brilliant and it is only a few weeks old. Now depending on how long/short your period is does reflect on the price of your box and you can find all the information you need on that HERE but what you do get to do is choose whether you have a monthly box or subscribe for 3 months at a time.  

The best part is that your package is shipped five days before you tell us your period is due, so you´re prepared and the boxes will always be discreet enough to ship to your office!

What do you think to Periodbox? 

Is it something you would purchase or gift to a friend?

Fragrance Shop Discovery Club Classics Edition

I am a huge perfume fan, love it and I am one of those people who loves perfume samples. What better way to decide whether or not you like the scent of something? We do it with make-up, so why not perfume? Back in April 2013 I brought to my blog a new subscription box from The Fragrance Shop Discovery Club which you can see HERE and again in June which is HERE and then September which is HERE, then the final box of 2013 HERE if you didn’t see it. Already in 2014 I have had the spring edition which you can find HERE, the summer edition which is HERE and the Autumn Edition which I showed not too long ago on my blog is HERE

For those of you not in the know this is the description of the box, which is a subscription:

"If you love fragrance, then you'll love our Discovery Club.

Our exciting new club allows you to explore the very latest fragrance launches from the comfort of your own home. For just £5 per quarter, each edition comes with fragrance samples for you to try, details on each of the fragrances included, as well as discount vouchers so you can make some big savings on all the scents featured."

Today I have before me the 'Classics Collection' to celebrate The Fragrance Shop's 2nd Birthday and I am super impressed with this box and this is what can be found inside.

Thierry Mugler Angel - Angel is a luxurious, chic and timeless fragrance, a delicate blend of exotic fruits, soft caramel, honey and chocolate combined with the captivating power of patchouli and vanilla. Top notes are Bergamot and Helional, with middle notes of Dewberry, Exotic fruits and Honey. Base notes are Vanilla, Chocolate, Patchouli and Caramel.  

No matter how many times I smell Angel, I dislike it.  I don't know what it is about the fragrance, but it definitely is not for me.

Jimmy Choo Parfum expresses an aura of strength and beauty and has a dazzling aura of glittering femininity. With top notes of mandarin orange and green pear, middle notes of orchid and base notes of toffee and patchouli, this fragrance is every bit as stylish as the eponymous shoe brand that bears the same name.

I like this but don't love it.  It is just a nice scent, quite floral and fruity without being too harsh on the nose.

Givenchy Very Irrésistible - A very dynamic sensual fragrance possessing the elegant floral top notes of rose and the exotic daring combination of peony and rose fantasia. A very appealing feminine scent by Givenchy.

This fragrance I adore and have purchased a full bottle of it through having a sample in a previous box.  Wonderful scent which lasts all day and is just lovely.

Touch of Pink By Lacoste which is a fruity floral fragrance for the youthful, energetic female with passion and power. Starting with notes of orange, coriander, peach, and cardamom. A heart of notes of carrot seed, jasmine and violet leaf boasting base notes of sandalwood, musk and vanilla.

One of my trusty faithful perfumes to go to.  Always have a bottle of this around and use it a lot more than I ever thought I would, more so because I am not a fan of things with Vanilla in them, but within this it is so light.

Lady Million Eau My Gold by Paco Rabanne  Lady Million Eau My Gold. The composition of this latest fragrance consists of notes of mango, neroli, bergmot, mandarin and grapefruit.

I am still sat on the fence with this scent, neither like or dislike it.

Nina Ricci - Nina - This magical fragrance is a promise of charm, enchantment and seductive femininity. A fresh floral-fruity fragrance with mouth watering red toffee apple accents.

Absolutely lovely scent and one I really enjoy using, would definitely feature on a wishlist to buy a full sized bottle of.

The final two samples are:

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique - The classic fragrance for women by Jean Paul Gaultier. The corset demonstrates confidence, romance, and timeless style, while the scent embodies femininity with a bewitching, voluptuous rose Eau de Parfum.

Not a fragrance I got too excited about i have to admit.  It is nice but that is really all I can say about it.  If I was given a bottle I would be happy about it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase it.

The most exciting part for me is the Estée Lauder bottle which is just stunning, instead of just having a sample vial, within my box is this super dooper little bottle.

Estée Lauder Modern Muse - Be an inspiration. Experience the fragrance that captures your style, your confidence, your creative spirit. An alluring contrast of sparkling florals and sleek, sensual woods. 

Now this scent is really lovely, one you would perhaps use for special occasions rather than everyday wear.  It is the first time I have come across it and being honest I would it would be a bit 'Mumsy' and something I would buy my own mum, but actually it isn't.

Then we have some samples for the men folk which are

Hugo Boss, Boss Bottled - This is a fresh, crisp citrus aroma with a blend of oriental woods. It's sophisticated and confident created for the modern man. Featuring top notes of oakmoss, bergamot, apple and lemon a heart of mahogany, carnation and cinnamon and a base notes of sandalwood, vanilla, oak tree and cedar.

Sat on the fence with this one, it is alright but not one either of us would rush out to buy.

Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme - Since 1994, L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme has become a hallmark of sophistication in the world of fragrances. It awakens the senses with its blend of citrus, precious woods and spices. The pure, energising scent is perfect for a modern, independent man.

A hit with Steve and a scent he really likes and keeps hinting about! Better be good for Santa!

Paco Rabanne, Invictus for Men - This is purely energising and fresh. The attraction of sensual symbolises masculinity and power. Inhale the scent of victory. Top notes of grapefruit, mandarin orange and marine accords give way to bay leaf and jasmine middle notes. Finishing the scent we have guaiac wood, oakmoss, patchouli and ambergris.

As soon as Steve smelt this he wanted it, that is how nice a scent it is, so I bought him a full sized version and it really is lovely.

I have really enjoyed getting these boxes, from them both Steve and I have acquired quite a few fragrances because we have enjoyed the samples so much and it also helps having voucher codes for money off.

So what do you think to this quarters box? 

Are there any perfume samples you like the sound of?

Ted Baker Hanging Fragrance Gifts

Ted Baker has some new miniature hanging fragrance gifts which would look amazing on any Beauty Bloggers Christmas tree or be a stocking filler if you so please.  One of each for the boys and girls, each set comprises of 4 individually wrapped 5ml fragrances** and 9ml fragrances** for boys and better still, once opened they slip straight into your handbag for a night out.

The girls set has four amazing fragrances which are:

• XO Sophisticated and Timeless - this fragrance has top notes of Orange Blossom which is combined with Gardenia Jasmine, Tuberose and has base notes of a powdery musk. 
• X20 Vibrant and Passionate - Star Anise, Grapefruit and Sparkling Green notes are blended with Heart of Magnolia, Mirabelle Plum and Water Lily. 
• W Beautifully Exotic - A charming blend of Fig Leaf Accord, White Peony and African violet teamed with Pink Orchid, Cassis and Raspberry are complimented with a warm Cedar and vanilla base. 
• Woman Floral and Spicy - A Light, fresh fragrance with fruity top notes of Bergamot, Tangerine, Lemon, Apple, Peach and Rum. Floral and spicy extracts of Jasmine, Fressia, Rose, Ylang Ylang and Cinnamon with a musky woody base of vanilla and Vetyver.

For the men folk we also have a set of four fragrances which are

• XO Fresh, Green and Woody - Designed for the men who like the finer things in life. Fresh Green top notes lead to a heart of aromatic woods, red berries and ginger roots. Mixed with base notes of pink pepper and warm sensual spices.
• X20 Spcy and Intense - Top notes of Tangerine, Tea and Cardamom with Lavender, Rosemary Spices and Violet Leaves and a base of Black Pepper, Sandalwood and Amber.
• Skinwear: Enticingly Aromatic - Fresh zesty extracts of lime, bergamot and lemon are blended with notes of Rosemary, Cypress and Juniper with an enticing base of Sandalwood, Amber and Musk
• M: Understated Sophistication - Top notes of Tonka Bean, Musk and Vertiver which are combined with Coriander, Amber and a rich Woody Base.

I am sure you will agree with me that these tree hangers are simply stunning and having just launched at Debenhams they cost just £22 for a set of four, or should you prefer £6 each.

What do you think to Ted's hanging fragrances?

Superdrug to the rescue!

Never has a post been more apt, as you read this particular one I am suffering from man-flu - serious man-flu, the worst I have had in years! Sore Throat, Runny Nose, Chesty Tickly Cough, Headache, Sinus Ache and worst of all a great big horrid coldsore on my top lip!  It is fair to say I am not well right now and essentially all that is interesting me right now is being snuggled up in bed watching either Christmas/24 or catching up with Nashville.

I am never ill, it is a rarity, but when I am poorly, I get really poorly and feel horrible for days.  Superdrug** have come to my rescue with just about everything you need for this type of illness

There is literally a medicine cabinet right there in front of you, every essential that you need when you have a heavy head cold like I have and this is what we have:

Superdrug Dry Tickly cough which gives effective relief for dry tickly coughs and sore throats. retails at £2.99 per 100ml.  It actually tastes pretty nice for a cough medicine in so much as you don't gag as soon as you swallow it and if like me you do have a sore throat, it is definitely effective relief.

The next batch of goodies again have all been an absolute godsend at making me feel slightly more human than I do.  Starting with the Adult Vapour Rub which is always one of those essential bathroom cabinet items for me, possibly a trick I picked up my my Mum growing up.  

If you really are bunged up and unable to shift the mucus, this stuff works wonders, more so if you put some in a bowl of hot water, lean over it with a towel over your head and breathe in and out for just a few minutes and hey presto, you can breathe out of your nose again!  Priced at just £1.79

Superdrug Max Cold & Flu Day & Night Capsules provide relief from the symptoms associated with cold and flu, including relief of aches and pains, sore throat, headache, nasal congestion and fever. At £2.99 for a packet of 16, for me there is more than enough to help clear my symptoms and best of all they don't leave you feeling drowsy.

The Superdrug Max Congestion are used to help provide relief from nasal congestion, particularly when associated with colds and flu or hayfever.  For me, I only use these when I am so bunged up I am giving myself a headache from constantly sniffing (and annoying myself) and they work really well, within a couple of minutes of taking them.  Priced at £1.69 for a packet of 12, they are another must have for the bathroom cabinet.

Superdrug Max Echinacea Cold & Flu Relief are also an essential to have.  I use these as a back up if nothing else is beginning to work because I find them quite powerful. Used to help relief the symptoms of the common cold and influenza type infections.  Priced at £4.99 for a packet of 30 tablets, these are slightly more expensive than the other items mentioned so far, but I have always found them to be reliable. 

The final item in this photograph to mention is the Superdrug Dual Action Sore Throat Lozenges which are Blackcurrent flavoured. Priced at just £1.99 for 24 Lozenges they help fights Infection and relieves pain for the effective relief of sore throats.  Again, another must have for the bathroom cabinet and they are brilliantly soothing on a sore throat, not to mention that they actually taste of real blackcurrent too.

Once you have got your cold or flu in hand and are beginning to feel a lot better, it is time to step up the Vitamin C intake and again Superdrug has everything you need for this.  Superdrug Effervescent Vitamins which are orange flavoured retail at just £2.99 for 20 dissoluble tablets.  All you need to do is take one tablet, dissolve it water and drink it and I will be honest, the taste does take some getting used too because it is quite sweet, but doesn't have that chalky effect.  If this doesn't sound right for you then we have the

Superdrug Chewy Vitamin C which comes in a tube of 60 and are priced at just £3.49 as Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect the body's tissues against cell damage caused by free radicals, so both of these products help to maintain a healthy immune system, the body's natural defence mechanism, and also helps maintain healthy skin.

I have been taking some of these for the last 3 days and whilst I am still feeling sorry for myself and slightly more human, I know I would be feeling much worse without a little help.  

As always please ensure that read the label before taking any of these products and do not exceed any of the stated doses.  Always check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about any of them.

Thank you Superdrug for helping to take care of me.

London Calling!

One thing I love about living in London is the fab opportunities there are to see so many of my favourite bands live. Since I moved here 13 years ago I have been to see quite an eclectic bunch:

• Steps, 
• Terrorvision, 
• Marylin Manson, 
• Bush, 
• Stone Temple Pilots
• Scissor Sisters
• Trucker Diablo, 
• My Chemical Romance,
• Linkin Park, 
• Enter Shakiri 

I am going to see Inspiral Carpets and Slipknot over the next few months - to say I am excited is an understatement.  One band that is coming up to headline at the O2 Arena where you buy Basement Jaxx Tickets, a band I had the opportunity to see when I first moved to London and one I would recommend seeing to anyone, just get your tickets quickly - or treat someone for Christmas!

If you son't know London that well, you will probably have heard of The O2 Arena which is situated in Greenwich, formerly known as the Millennium dome, it has undergone quite a transformation and is a brilliant venue to visit, even if there isn't something on that you would like to see. Situated right outside the North Greenwich tube station, on the Jubilee Line it is one venue you won't have trouble spotting. 

Most of the bands I have been to see have been playing at the O2 Arena here in London which is not only a huge venue for music but it also has a lot of places to eat and drink, so you have the opportunity to make a day, afternoon or evening of it, there is literally something for everyone regardless of your age. 

If you like Bowling there is Brooklyn Bowl, then Cineworld if you fancy watching a film, Sky Studios where you can go behind the scenes. Read the news and see how TV is made or if you fancy doing something a little bit different altogether you can Climb over the iconic roof and see the London skyline from the top of the Arena. Add all of that to the 35 food and drink venues, you have the makings of a great opportunity to hand.

Have you ever been to the O2 Arena?

*this post contains a sponsored link

How to Control Frizz on Your Winter Holiday + Winter Sun Giveaway

Now winter is on its way your hair is probably used to the cold, rainy weather here in Britain but once you step off that plane on your winter holiday this year into the heat and humidity of lands afar, the chances are frizz will attack. 

Even if you’re lucky enough to escape the heat then, by the time you’ve been in and out of the sea you’re almost certainly going to fall victim to flyaway hairs and messy tangles. So what can you do to control your frizzy hair whilst you’re away on holiday this winter? Here are my top tips on how to tame those locks and maintain the perfect hair on holiday. 

Hydrate Your Hair 

Damaged, dry hair usually means that the cuticles of your hair have been raised and it is this damage to the cuticles that cause your hair to appear frizzy. To help combat this problem, make sure that you’re using a moisturising shampoo and conditioner and try using a hair mask to help re-hydrate your locks.

Use What Nature Gave You

Your hair contains natural oils that help to combat frizz without even having to touch a bottle of hair care product. Avoid washing your hair every day to allow the natural oils to do their thing and use a boar-bristle hairbrush to help distribute these oils across your hair evenly. 

Don’t Over-Style Your Hair 

Being away on holiday gives you the chance to bathe in the endless sunshine, take a dip in the hotel pool or even splash around in the crystal blue sea. But all that sun exposure, chlorine and sea salt, unfortunately, isn’t so appealing to your poor hair. Understandably you want to glam yourself up as you hit the town in the evening but the trick to escape frizz is to not style your hair too much. 

Avoid blow drying your hair and if possible, try to find a style that suits you that doesn’t involve any heat styling at all. If you’re lucky enough to get natural beach waves, enhance these curls with a sea-salt spray or even use specially designed curly hair products to help add more shape and definition. If your hair can’t be tamed so easily try a simple up-do or an easy plait to keep your hair away from of your face.

To all my fabulous readers, I have been offered the chance of a giveaway, it is UK only and the winner will need to be aged 16 or over (or have parental consent because I will need your address) and you can win:

• 1 x Sheer Blonde bag
• 1 x Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo
• 1 x Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Conditioner

All you need to do is complete the form below - Good Luck

Some of the options are Mandatory and must be completed if they are not done so (and I check everyone) your entries will be removed from the competition.

Follow John Frieda on Twitter

Follow Beautyqueen_uk on Twitter

Follow Beautyqueenuk on Bloglovin

Like John Frieda on Facebook

Like Beautyqueenuk on Facebook

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Boots No.7 Match Made Lipstick Service

I finally got my act together and went into a local Boots store to try out their matching service and the No.7 girl was so lovely she offered to do both foundation and lipstick - winning!  The match made service is totally free and the little device which is no bigger than the average television remote control, reads your skin precisely to decipher which shade of foundation, concealer and lipstick will suit your skin tone. 

So I sat down behind the counter and was asked if I was wearing any make-up, which as I was, it was removed for me and then the gadget was placed on my cheek and she did it on both sides of my face to ensure she got the right reading, both sides registered my perfect shades and before showing me the machine, off the lady went to collect the foundation to try on my skin and then gave me a card which listed all of the lipsticks I should try.  

My skin shade was matched to Cool Vanilla which gave me a huge amount of option with regards to lipstick, so I had a good time swatching them.  As you can see below there is a choice of 10 different lipsticks from the Moisture Drench side and 7 for Stay Perfect - all of which I swatched except Rose Mist as it wasn't in stock.

As I couldn't decide which shade I liked more than any others, the lady who was testing the products on me offered to make the choice with her colleague, which sounded interesting, so having agreed they went off and spent 2-3 minutes deciding which one they thought would look best and picked one for me. I wasn't allowed to see it until it had been applied and once I did see it, I knew I was going to be buying it. 

 The shade I was given is Spring Pink which is a No.7 Moisture Drench Lipstick designed to keep your lips smooth and soft. Hypo-allergenic, Fragrance free, SPF15.

As for the foundation, the shade I was matched too is a Stay Perfect Superlight foundation in shade Cool Vanilla which I have to admit is brilliant, I absolutely love it. Described as being a new innovation in life-proof, light weight foundation. It gives a naturally flawless look which stays perfect for up to 24 hours. It has an SPF 15 and is hypo-allergenic too.

The best part of the whole experience is that there was also a 3 for 2 offer on at the time, so I needed to select a free product and this is what I chose.

Overall, I am really happy with the service and wouldn't hesitate to try something like this again.  There will be pictures of both the foundation and lipstick in a future post as well as the highlighter.

 Have you tried it?

The Library of Fragrance Perfume

If you hadn't guessed by now, one of the most popular items in this household bwteen Beautykinguk and I is something smelly - either a candle or some perfume/aftershave, infact between us, we probably make The Perfume Shop look half empty! When I heard about the new launch of The Library of Fragrance, I was really excited, if you are a US reader then your version is called Demeter. The Library of Fragrance here in the UK has a massive collection of 101 different fragrances to choose from, and secondly, each of the 101 fragrances have been designed to smell exactly like an object and experience from life so imagine my difficulty when it came to selecting a scent!

I looked at each and everyone within the catalogue to choose from and randomly rattled it down to five - Jasmine, Holy Water, Bulgarian Rose, Peony and Rain. All of which to me sounded like scents I would love. That said Thunderstorm, Fresh coconut, Fireplace, Wet Garden and Play Dough are all quirky enough to have caught my attention.  So if you do struggle to select a scent and want to order a few, then you can actually layer these scents one over the other to create your own individual scent - how amazing is that?  This is the first time I have heard of doing something like that and it is definitely something i am going to try.

I was sent the Jasmine scent which happens to be my favourite scent currently and it is every bit as amazing as I was expecting it to be. firstly the packaging, it is such a great rectangular shape that it stands out immediately, then the label which is quite old-fashioned but clear to read, with everything you need to know being visible right on front of you. described as follows:

"Jasmine – exotic, sweet, warm and heady. Our Jasmine fragrance is the experience of the living flowers picked on a beautifully fragrant spring night – at night because this is when the jasmine flower opens its petals and bestows us with its most intoxicating fragrance.

Captivating and seductive, jasmine is one of the flowers most valued by perfumers, and is largely grown in the French region of Grasse, the home of perfumery. Jasmine’s mood-inducing scent is one of the most distinct of all natural odours. If you like your fragrance to make an impact and to announce your arrival, our Jasmine is the scent for you"

I absolutely love this scent and have worn it a lot since it came into my possession, it isn't over the top when first spritzed but it does last a good 4-5 hours before you need to re-apply and given the size of the bottle, it is a handy size for carrying around in your handbag.

You can purchase The Library of Fragrance's scents from their own website, or you buy from selected Boots stores. Each of The Library of Fragrance perfumes are 30ml in size, and cost just £15 each.

What do you think to this concept? Has any of the scents caught your attention?

MasqueBar

MasqueBar is a Korean brand that has just launched at Boots. As the Korean beauty trend seems to have well and truly kicked off here in the UK, I was really interested to see what MasqueBar had to offer.

There are four masks within the range and they are; Anti-Blemish Mud Mask, Brightening Sheet Mask, Pore Refining Creme Mask and Anti- Wrinkle sheet mask. So a little something for everyone.  If you don't like sheets masks, you can use the cream/clay mask and vice versa.

What I love is the bright coloured edges around each mask sachet to denote which one it is, I love little things like this and I love that they are easy to open, yes even with wet hands and if like me you are stingy, you can get a good 2-3 masks out of each sachet, obviously not the sheets ones, but there is plenty inside.

So what do they do?

Pore-refining creme mask - said to minimise the appearance of pores for a more refined even complexion. Using a gentle blend of Coenzyme Q-10 and anti-oxidants to leave your skin feeling balanced and looking radiant.  The key ingrediants for this mask are Raspberry extract to soothe and calm the skin, Lemon Fruit extract to detoxify and clean blemishes caused by excess oil production whilst also brightening dull skin and lightening the pigmentation of acne scars and Vitamin E to protect the skin from environmental pollution and repair damaged skin!

Anti-Wrinkle sheet mask - A collagen-infused facial sheet mask which contours your face to help reduce wrinkles as well as hydrating your skin, leaving it feeling soft and looking refreshed.  The key ingredients here are Green Tea extract which reduced the UV damage to the skin and prevents collagen breakdown and Vitamin E to protect the skin from environmental pollution and repair damaged skin!

Brightening Sheet Mask - Helps minimise the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation for a more even complexion. This facial sheet is effective on all tones, leaving the skin noticeably more radiant.  Key ingredients are Vitamin C to reduce inflammation and promote collagen production and Liquorice Root to encourage a more even distribution of melanin to naturally brighten the skin.

Anti-Blemish Mud Mask - This mask is said to soothe irritated skin whilst helping to control excess oil. This mask is a non-drying formula which purifies and balances the complexion, leaving skin feeling calm and looking clearer.  Key ingredients afe Tea Tree to calm irritations and breakouts, Kaolin to increase the skins circulation, helping to stimulate healing and reduce irritation and Vitamin A to stimulate the turnover of skin cells and increase collagen production.

I have used the pore refining mask and after thoroughly cleanses my face with warm water, you apply the mask using your fingertips, or a brush if you prefer, ensuring you cover the whole of your face (except the obvious) and neck. Then lay back and relax for between 15-20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. 

As I applied the mask to my face, it was quite a thick texture, so it is a case of a little going a very long way. White in colour as it is a creme mask, once applied to the skin it does begin to dry quite quickly, so if you want to remove after those initial 15 minutes it will be dry, but I decided to wait for the full 20 minutes.

After removing the mask did it live up to its claims? Well I don't have large pores so I didn't notice any difference but I do have combination skin which leans to an oily t-zone for me and I did notice that for a few days after using, my shiny head and nose had almost disappeared, so that for me was quite impressive and did my skin look brighter, well it felt much more refreshed and definitely much cleaner, so the answer for me is yes it did.

I am really looking forward to trying the rest of the masques which I was kindly given and put them to the test.  They will be sold in boxes of three at £9.99.

Do you use any Korean skincare products?  Do you think you will try these masques?